NationStates

A typical Inner Colonies City is an expansive urban metropolis, with massive arcologic buildings thousands of metres high, the towers usually have large terraces built around their midpoints, with wide bridges connect these buildings together, these rather then the ground below (which are typically used for manufacturing and industry, and occasionally interspersed with parks, forests and artificial rivers) serve as the main centres of foot traffic and commerce, as such many of these cities (or groups within the cities) also build elaborate rail lines running along these wide terraces. These cities are usually very beautiful, with thousands of gardens, fountains and sculptures usually built by private organizations or with help from the civil service bureau, hovercars are somewhat atypical in these cities, limited parking space means that rentals and taxis are the most common forms, that said private cars are common enough that you will see one any given time you look up. Buses run by a variety of corporations also run high above the city with passengers. Cities are usually very luxurious looking combine the architecture of Art-Deco and Greco-Roman (colloquially called Greco-Deco) with occasional forays into International and Futuristic Buildings, making Imperial Cities very Beautiful.
Old City Veritium, Sierrium

A Perfect example of Greco-Roman influences, Old City Veritium is the centre of Imperial Government, and as such as grown to reflect the Roman history of the Empire, Patricians can be seen wearing their robes, likely they are about to attend a formal function, as suits and fedoras would otherwise be the norm. This also shows the elaborate bridges and art of the Empire. This architecture style typically appears around government structures and wealthy patrician areas, whereas art-deco and greco-deco are more common in the main city.

The Spartanum International Spaceport, Nova Laurus

This photo clearly exemplifies the terraces system of our nation. Spartanum is the central headquarters of the Imperial Military in the Inner Colonies, as such it's buildings tend to reflect the austere military nature of its citizens. Though they have a beauty all to their own.

Leaving the Central Plaza on Medizio, Vanalia

Overlook of Avina, Sierrium

These are the most typical architecture in the Empire, found in nearly every city in the Empire. The above image clearly shows everyday Adrian Citizens going about their business. While the below shows some examples of sky-bridges and typical architecture.

The colonial city is built around a central structure formed by the landed colony ship, this central structure contains the basic administration buildings, homes for several thousand, a central business area, and an armoury for the civil defence or purchased mercenary forces. The starship engine is refitted to become a hydrogen power generator supplying enough power to supply a small city. The main structure itself is very strong and acts a stronghold in case of the city being attacked. From their the city branches off colonial cities are usually built with an expandable modular wall, which provides security for the inner buildings, which are typically similar to the Inner Colonies, but with more freestanding structures, terraces being typical in older cities, as the Empire tends to build up rather then out.
The River Outlook of Averium, on Cerecia

A New Colony, On Terra Nova

Narvinium on Gaira

The Fringe City is very rarely built on planet surface, as they are harder to protect from slave raids, instead mining facilities will be located on planet while the main population lives in orbital satellites and terraformed asteroids around them. Satellite cities vary in construction pattern, some cities in fact are just ad-hoc constructs of derelict ships welded together. These plucky frontier cities are usually havens for vice and criminal behaviour, casinos, seedy night clubs and brothels offering services that would not be acceptable in the civilized inner colonies. These are not illegal in the Empire proper, but rather would see little clientèle due to the Adrian sense of Morality, out here is where the outcasts congregate. Pirates, Slavers and Gangs make the Fringes one of the most dangerous areas in the Empire, the unlucky traveller caught in the Fringes without a weapon is best advised to stick to the main stations, where in trouble they might be assisted by armed passersby, avoiding the darker areas where robberies, kidnappings and other salacious activity occurs, of course his best course of action is to get his hands on a gun, that is supposing he is a citizen or valid tourist permit holder.
A Typical Mining Colony